Less than two days before Major League Baseball’s trading close, the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly reached out to the Oakland Athletics in a bid to bring on right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas.
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MLB Network found out on Sunday.
The 29-year-old is one of the best starters available to trade. It looks like the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals are also in the running for his services.
According to sports site The Athletic, the ‘A’s’ want to get their hands on two high-profile talents and one established player in exchange for Montas.
In 19 starts this season with athletics rebuilding, Montas went 4-9 with a 3.18 ERA. He has played in the major leagues since the 2015 season, the only season he played in a Chicago White Sox uniform. The Dominican Republic native could also gain full autonomy under the terms of the 2023 campaign.
Getting back to the Jays, the Queen City roster already has a good starting rotation with Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Ross Stripling and Jose Berrios. Yusei Kikuchi’s inconsistency would explain the Blue Jays’ desire for reinforcements on the hill. Also keep in mind that Hyun Jin Ryu will not be returning this season after undergoing “Tommy John” type surgery.
Because of their win Sunday afternoon, Canada’s only major league baseball team is 57-45. It ranks first among teams drafted in the American League by a 2.5-game lead over the first club eliminated from the playoffs.